Electric switch.



W. A. ATWOOD.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILEDMAR.l3,l91l- 1,256,195. Patented Feb. 12, 1918 Fig.1.

4 Inventor: Winfield aqaqtwoocl,

I-liso lttorne9 STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

WINFIELD A. ATWOOD, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12,1918.

Application filed March 13, 1917. Serial No. 154,454.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VINFIFLD A. ATwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, to electric switches and has for its object the provision of an improved electric switch of unit construction and of the magnetic blow-out type which can be easily assembled to form a multi-unit switch for the control of a plurality of circuits. through a common operating mechanism,

My electric switch has a specific application as an auxiliary device assoclated with circuit controlling devices such as circuit breakers, but it is understood that the switch is not limited to this application. It is customary to use auxiliary control switches for circuit breakers in which a reciprocating member operatively related to a movable member of the circuit breaker, carries a contact bridging member which is moved in one direction to close one set of control contacts when the circuit breaker opens, and movable in the opposite direction to close another set of contacts when the circuit breaker closes. Such auxiliary switches were satisfactory when it was necessary to control but two circuits but due to the various interlocking and signal schemes now used, conditions arise when it becomes necessary to control three or more circuits by the operation of a circuit breaker. and this scheme using the reciprocating bridging member is not adapted for such uses.

By the use of my improved device, I overcome the diliiculties met with in the switches now known in the art by providing an auxiliary switch which is applicable to the control of any number of circuits, and which is made up of a plurality of separate switches of a unit construction. These switches are so arranged that a plurality of units can be assembled to form a unitary control device in which the plurality of unit switches are operable by a common operating mechanism associated with the circuit breaker. By the proper adjustment of the parts, each unit switch can be made to open or close its circuit as desired when the circuit breaker operates. Each unit switch comprises fixed and movable cooperating contacts. the movable contacts forming terminals of a blowout coil which is rotatably and removably mounted on a common shaft and acts as'a bridging member for the fixed contacts. Pole pieces carried by the common shaft cooper.- ate therewith to form magnetic, circuits for the blowout coils.

The features which I believe tobecharacteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated in the appended claims while the features of construction and the mode ofoperation will be understood by reference; to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred embodiments of my invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a control device embodying the novel features of my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a. view showing the combination of my control device with a circuit breaker or imilar device.

In Fig. 1 my control device is shown as comprising a supporting structure having members 1 and 2 secured to an insulating base 3. Carried by the end members 1 and 2 is a shaft 4 rotatably mounted in bearing members 5 to turn in response to an operating member or lever 6 carried at one end of the shaft 4. The shaft 4 is preferably of iron or other magnetic material and plural sided in configuration. The operating member 6 carries a lug 7 between which and a lug 8 carried by end member 2, a spring9 is secured. The operating member 6 is also provided with an arm 10 to which is secured a rod 11 operatively related to a circuit breaker 12. as best shown in Fig. 4, in such a manner that the opening and closing of the circuit breaker actuates the operating member 6 and shaft l. lVhen the circuit breaker 12 closes, the rod 11 is actuated and the operating member 6 and shaft l moved in a direction to exert a tension on spring 9. When the breaker opens, the tension exerted by the spring 9 acts to quickly move rod 11, operating member 6 and shaft 4 in the opposite direction, the lugs 7 and 8 being positioned to cooperate and limit the movc ment of the operating member and shaft in this direction. As the end members 1 and 2 are interchangeable, the operating member 6 with spring 9 and lug 8 can be mounted on the shaft 4 at either end thereof as is desired.

The separate unit switches are controlled by the common operating mechanism above described, each switch consisting of a rotatable member 13 removably positioned on the common shaft 1 between the end membore 1 and 2. As the insulating base 3 and the shaft 4 can be made of any length desired, any number of unit switches can be assembled on the shaft so that a control device for any number of circuits can be provided.

I11 Fig. l I have shown my control device, for purposes of illustration, as comprising three unit switches 14:, 15, 16 for the control of three circuits. In order to adapt my device for the control of any number of circuits, I make each switch of a unit construction which enables them to be easily assembled. Each switch unit comprises, as stated, a rotatable member 13 which consists of a cylinder or drum 17 to which is secured side members or disl-z-shaped members 18 preferably of fiber or other insulating material, these members extending beyond the drum 1? to form a spool-shaped member. This spool-shaped or rotatable member 13 is provided with a central opening preferably plural sided in configuration, through which opening, the common shaft 4 of like configuration passes, each rotatable member being removably positioned on the shaft and adapted to occupy one of two effective positions thereon, as will be described. Carried by each rotatable member 13 is an electrical winding or blow-out coil 19 preferably wound on the cylinder or drum 17 and provided with terminal members 20 mounted between the extending sides of members 18 and oppositely disposed to form contact surfaces, as best shown in Fig. 3. Cooperating with these contact surfaces or terminal members 20 are spring fingers or fixed contacts 21 mounted on the insulating base 3 between the extensions of members 18 of the rotatable member 13 and on each side thereof. It is thus apparent that the rotatably mounted blow-out coil 19 of each switch operates with its terminal members 20 to engage and disengage the fixed contacts 21 when the shaft 4 is rotated, to open and close its circuit.

The rotatable member 13 for each switch is, as before stated, removably positioned on the common shaft 1 and is positioned thereon or keyed thereto in one of two effective positions. In one effective position of the rotatable members 13, the terminal members 20 of their blow-out coils 19 normally engage their respective fixed contacts 21 when operating member (3 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 or in circuit breaker opening position while in the other effective position of the rotatable members on the shaft 4, the terminal members 20 of their blow-out coils are normally out of engagement with their respective fixed contacts 21 when the operating member 6 is in circuit breaker opening position. In Fig. 1, I have shown switches 14 and 15 with their rotatable members 13 positioned on the shaft -l to normally hold their blow-out coils 19 in position to close their circuits while the circuit breaker is open and operating to open their circuits when the circuit breaker closes. Switch 16, on the other hand, has its rotatable member so positioned on shaft 1, that its blow-out coil 19 is normally in circuit opening position when the circuit breaker is open, completing its circuit when the breaker closes. Switches 1% and 15 are of therefore the circuit closing type and switch 16 is of the circuit opening type but it is understood that these switches may be made either type desired by properly adjusting the position of their respective rotatable members 13 on the shaft 1. It is thus apparent that I have provided a control device which is not only adapted to control. any number of circuits desired but the separate switch units of which can be arranged to either open or close their respective circuits as desired. 13y mounting the rotatable members 13 on the shaft it in other positions which I desire to call ineffective positions, their respective lixed contacts 21 are not bridged either in the open or closed position of the circuit breaker and hence are inoperative to con trol their circuit.

The coil 19 of each switch not only serves as a means for completing the circuit of the s\ tch but serves also to assist in the extinguishnient of the arcs formed when the circuit is interrupted. For performing this function, plates or pole pieces are removably positioned on the shaft a adjacent each side of each rotatable member 18 which cooperate with the common shaft 1 to form the magnetic circuits for the coils 19. The extending sides of members 18 for each rotatable member 13 form a circular arc chute, in which the fixed contacts and terminal members :20 of the coils 19 break engage ment, the magnetic fields being such that the are formed on one side of each rotatable member is blown upwardly while the arc formed on the other side of the member is blown downwardly. The chute also pre vents such arcs from endangering adjacent switches.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the princip e of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In a circuit controlling device the coma up bination with a air of fixed contacts, a rotatable shaft, a bridging member for said contacts comprising a blow-out coil positioned on said shaft and rotatably movable between said contacts, and terminal mem bers for said coil cooperating with said contacts to open or close a circuit in response to the rotation of said coil, of members carried by said shaft and cooperating there with to form a magnetic circuit for said coil.

2. In a circuit controlling device the combination with a pair of fixed contacts, a rotatable shaft, a bridging member for said contacts comprising a blow-out coil removably positioned on said shaft and rotatable thereby, terminal members for said coil moperating with said fixed contacts to open or close the circuit in response to the rotation of said coil, said coil being adjustable on said. shaft to form in one position a circuit opening means and in another position a circuit closing means in response to the rotation of said shaft, and pole pieces cooperating with said shaft to form a magnetic field for said coil.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising a rotatable shaft, a rotatable member removably positioned on said shaft, a blow-out coil carried by said member, terminal members for said coil. oppositely disposed on said rotatable member to form contact surfaces, fixed contacts cooperating with said terminal members, said rotatable member adapted to be positioned on said shaft to normally hold said terminal members and fixed contact either in or out of engagement, and pole pieces adjacent said rotatable member coopcrating with said shaft to form a magnetic circuit for said coil.

--l-. A. circuit controlling device comprising a pair of fixed contacts, a blow-outcoil rotatably positioned between said contacts, terminals for said coil cooperating with said contacts to open or close the circuit in response to the rotation of said coil, a shaft, a rotatable member carrying said coil and terminals removably positioned on said shaft to hold said coil normally in either circuit opening or circuit closing position, and pole pieces rcn'iovably positioned on said shaft and cooperating therewith to form a magnetic circuit for said coil.

5. In a control device for a plurality of electric circuits, the combination with a durality of separate switches of unit constriu-tion, each switch unit comprising fixed centacts, a rotatably mounted blow-out coil, tenninal members therefor cooperating with said contacts to control the circuit of the switch by rotation of said coil, and a rota- Copies of this patent may be table member supporting said coil and terminal members, of a common operating shaft upon. which the rotatable members of each switch are removably positioned to normally hold their respective switches in either circuit closing or circuit opening position, and pole pieces adjacent each rotatable member forming with said common shaft a magnetic circuit for each blow-out coil.

ti, In a control device for a plurality of electric circuits, the combination with rotatable shaft, a plurality of rotatable members removably positioned on said shaft to assume one of several positions, blow-out coils carried by said members, terminals for said blow-out coils forming contact. members, fixed contacts normally engaged by the terminals of said blow-out coils when their respective rotatable members are in one position and normally disengaged when their respective members are in another position, and members earned by said shaft and cooperatin g therewith to form independent magnetic circuits for said blow-out coils.

T. The combination with a circuit breaker, of an auxiliary switching device comprising a plurality of separate switches of unit construction, a common operating means for said switches operatively related to said circuit breaker including a rotatable shaft, said switches comprising members reniovably positioned on said. shaft, fixed contacts, blow-out coils carried by said members, terminals for said coils cooperating with said fixed contacts to control the circuits of their respective switches, each of said members adapted to be independently positioned on said shaft to hold their blowout coils to either open or closed circuit in response to operation of said circuit breaker.

8. The combination with a circuit breaker, of an auxiliary switching device comprising one or more separate switches of unit construction, a common operating shaft for said switches rotatable in response to the opening and closing of said circuit breaker, each of said switches comprising fixed contacts, a blow-out coil cooperating with said contacts, a rotatable member supporting said blowout coil and adjustable on said shaft to move said coil into either circuit closing or circuit opening relation with said fixed contact in response to opening of said circuit breaker, and means adjacent said rotatable members and cooperating with said shaft to form separate magnetic cir cuits for said blow-out coils.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my lntnd this 12th day of March, 1917.

\YINFIELD A. ATlVOOD.

the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

